[CluckyChicken]

I know it is getting colder and their feathers change, but i'm not sure about my lil' girl  (she is a Cuckoo Maran).  When you stroke her normally, she is fine, but if you just gently stroke her the other way, her feathers are really spiky at the ends-you cant because it hurts your hand! Is this bad, or just come at winter?  oh p.s., she is only 33 weeks and not started moulting yet-is it this?
Please help!  Thanks,  CC x

[afewgoodchickens]

Hi  my  cuckoo maran takes about 2 months to moult and for the first few weeks its hard to notice it seems all of a sudden that the feathers have come through with their protective coating on and and giving her a tickle you notice and on looking closer you then see she is in moult....  which means the hen house needs cleaning twice a week for all the feathers and bits that come off her for weeks and weeks - must love em to do that much cleaning....  Hope its as simple as that

[8doubles]

Why stroke a hen the wrong way and ruffle her feathers, she will not enjoy it ?

[CluckyChicken]

No, I didnt stroke her the wrog way!!  no, I was checking for lice, and just noticed they were all spiky at the end.  Sorry if I gave the wrong impression.

CC xx

[8doubles]

Are you touching the sharp edges of a clipped wing ?If not all i can think of is feathers damaged by a cockerel or another hen who wants to steal a choice food item.
If she is lower down in the pecking order it`s 'no holds barred'.

[CluckyChicken]

She is the top of the pecking order, with one other chicken in there with 3 chicks.  No males, and never has been.  We havnt clippe her (she's too interested in her food!), and always steals the others' food  .  Oh well, thanks guys, she seems ok and I'll just keep an eye on her
Thanks,
CC xx